There has been a lot of talk this offseason that the Padres could convert reliever Mason Miller to a starter as a way to address some of San Diego’s rotation needs. However, new manager Craig Stammen said Monday afternoon that Miller will remain part of San Diego’s late-inning options in 2026.
“It’s a risky proposition in terms of health and performance,” Stammen said of potentially stretching the 27-year-old right-hander.
With that decision, the Padres could have Miller as their closer this season, while Robert Suarez is currently a free agent. While the back end may have solidified, San Diego still has a lot of work to do to fill the holes in the rotation left by the departures of Dylan Cease and Michael King, as well as the elbow injury that will keep Yu Darvish off the mound in 2026.
Granted, Miller was a possible option for the rotation, and more rotation work would need to be done by San Diego even if Miller had become a starter. Now the Padres will be on the hunt for multiple starters and could potentially use a trade (possibly Jake Cronenworth) to land some pitching help.
Cincinnati Reds uses good and bad from 2025, carried out in 2026
The last time we saw the Cincinnati Reds, they were being swept out of the postseason by the eventual world champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
While the Reds impressed to reach the postseason, going 83-79 in 2025 after going 77-85 in 2024, manager Terry Francona hopes his team remembers not only what went right last season, but also what went wrong at the end.
“I think we all got a taste of what it can feel like to pop champagne, which is good. A few days later we also felt the sting of getting beat up in two quick games and sent home before you wanted to,” Francona said. “I told our boys to remember both feelings.”
Cardinals try to maintain ‘balance’ amid trade rumors
The St. Louis Cardinals have trade rumors swirling, with prospects Nolan Arenado, Willson Contreras, Lars Nootbaar and others being traded as the franchise looks to retool its roster.
Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol knows that if these veterans are lost, St. Louis will see a youth movement start a full season in 2026.
“There’s an urgency to win, and there’s a standard that we’re going to maintain. But at the same time, you can’t get frustrated if you’re not getting the immediate results you’re looking for from certain young guys,” Marmol said. “You have to keep your head down and make sure they feel supported. They also understand what this looks like, so there’s a balance there.”
All quotes are obtained first hand unless otherwise stated.
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